BIRDS' NESTS. 221 



straight here to you/ This was his story, 

 Sir/ 3 



" And what made you doubt it ? " said the 

 magistrate. 



" Why, Sir, in the first place, I knew the 

 keepers kept too strict a watch in Cobb-wood 

 at egging-time, to let any poachers come there 

 by broad daylight ; and, in the next place, I 

 looked carefully at the pheasant, and saw that 

 it had not been shot at all, but had been killed 

 by having its neck twisted. So I said to him, 

 ' Now, you are not going to impose upon me 

 with that nonsense. This is a hen pheasant 

 that has been caught sitting; the feathers have 

 been all rubbed off her breast, 5 (and if your 

 worship will please to look at the bird, you will 

 see that it is as I say,) 'and it's my firm belief 

 that you caught her on the nest, and have stolen 

 the eggs. So, unless you can produce the man 

 who gave it to you, I shall take the bird to 

 Mr. Long or Mr. Miller, and have a warrant 

 against you/ : 



